January 29, 2020

On Tuesday, January 28, the Kaua'i Association said, "Farewell" to Jeannie Thompson, who is ending her ministry with Kapa‘a UCC after 14 years of service in the church and the Association. They thanked her with a potluck dinner at the Lihue United Church. View photos from the evening.

January 29, 2020

On Sunday, January 19, Robin Lunn was installed as the new Pastor at Makawao Union Church in Paia, Maui. View photos from the service and celebration.
 

January 15, 2020

In 1900 during alterations and repairs at Haili Church (211 Haili Street, Hilo), the old motto "Ua La'a No Iehova" (Dedicated to God) was gilded in gold leaf above the choir by the wish of the blind Deacon Kawaha, and at his own expense.

"That all may see that the place is dedicated to the Lord, even if my old eyes cannot look upon the words, but my heart is established thereon, and that the young generation may reverence the name of Iehova."

This message inspired a generation of Hawaiians in their Christian faith until the large pipe organ covered the wall in 1929. The sign awaited its resurrection for public viewing for 90 years.

In 2019 the pipe organ underwent a massive upgrade and renovation. Part of the back wall and the entire sign was removed to preserve it during this renovation. A local artist, Miles Sumida, framed it in curly koa and re-hung it at the rear of the auditorium.

Last Christmas Eve during the Candlelight Service, Brian Welsh and the Deacons revealed the sign in all its authentic glory. A formal dedication with Hawaiian oli and anointing was held Sunday, December 29, 2019 during the end of the year Unity Service. Haili Church members encourage the community to come worship and be inspired by this historic sign during regular Sunday services!

January 8, 2020

On December 15, 2019, the Kids Klub children of Lihu'e Christian Church led their congregation in ushering in a new church-wide mission, Going and Growing Green in the Holy Spirit. Each person in worship that morning was gifted with a reusable set of eating utensils to reduce the use of single-use plastic ware in circulation. Read more about how the children are leading the way in this new initiative.

January 8, 2020

Ka Hana O Ke Akua Church on O'ahu held a Blue Christmas Service at Poka‘i Bay Beach Park on December 21, 2019. Read more about the service and view photos from that day.

February 29, 2020

Waiola Church in Lahaina hosted a celebration commemorating Queen Keōpūlani on February 29. Year 2020 marks the 197th year of the baptism of Keōpūlani and the establishment of Waiola Church, Maui's first church and the final resting place of the Queen.

February 26, 2020

The 2020 Church Leaders Event was held on February 22 at Nu‘uanu Congregational Church. Moderators, treasurers, trustees, committee chairs, officers and other church leaders gathered for a day of networking, learning, and talking story. Conference Minister Rev. David Popham was the keynote speaker.

February 16, 2020

After 29 years of faithful service with Keawala'i Congregational Church on Maui, Kahu Kealahou Alika retired on Sunday, February 16. The church held a special worship service and luncheon.

February 12, 2020

Kahu Clement Malani, Sr., retired Kahu of his home church, Laupahoehoe Congregational Church, passed away on February 5, 2020 in Hilo, Hawai'i. He is survived by his wife, Ruby, adult children and their families. Further details are still pending.

February 12, 2020

Steve Jerbi began serving as Interim Pastor of Lana'i Union Church and his first Sunday in worship was February 2. He is an ordained Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA) minister and is joined by his wife, Jen, and their two daughters on Lāna'i.

February 12, 2020

The Spring Mokupuni of the 'Aha O Nā Mokupuni 'O Maui, Moloka'i a me Lāna'i (Tri-Isle Association) was held February 8 at Iao United Church of Christ in Wailluku. 

February 12, 2020

The Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches (AHEC) held its Spring 'Aha Hālawai on January 31 – February 1 at Waiola Church in Lahaina.

February 5, 2020

At the last Conference Council meeting on February 1, the Council voted to have the Hawai'i Conference sign on to an amicus brief in the case of Muslims who were targeted by government officials because of their religion, a case that is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Hawai'i Conference was approached by the attorney writing the amicus brief to join an interfaith coalition of religious groups in signing on to the brief. Read the entire amicus brief HERE.

March 25, 2020

In a pastoral letter from Conference Minister David Popham, it was announced:

"The Conference office closed at 4:00 p.m. on Monday and will not be reopened until the Honolulu County mandate is lifted. Your conference staff will continue, as best we can, to work from home and provide support for our ministers, congregations, and associations. Please understand that access to our files and other such "hard material" will be limited and not all requests can be met until the shelter-in-place mandate is lifted. We ask that you contact us by phone and email. Most meetings have been moved to Zoom. We are working to remain available and reachable during this time."

Read the full pastoral letter HERE.

March 18, 2020

In a letter sent to churches and pastors on March 16, Conference Minister David Popham wrote, "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking that all gatherings of 50 people or more to stop for eight weeks. After much prayer and conversations with UCC leaders, the Hawai'i Conference Office strongly recommends that you move your worship to other platforms for the next eight Sundays. This means forgoing public worship in our church buildings until May 18. At the end of February I sent out a letter encouraging all our churches, pastors, and leaders to think through a plan around this scenario; now is the time to enact that plan. We also encourage all Association events to move to online meetings including Boards and Committees on Ministry."

Please contact your local church for information about their plans for worship and other activities.

March 18, 2020

Due to COVID-19, the following events have been cancelled:

• Kawaiaha'o Church Bicentennial events are postponed, including:

1. Sunday, March 15: Speaker Series, "What Makes Kawaiaha'o a Wahi Pana," will be rescheduled to May or June.

2. Friday, March 27: Red carpet premiere of our documentary, A Witness to Aloha, will be rescheduled to a date this coming July. Details are forthcoming.

3. Friday, April 24: Tea on the Lawn is postponed; new date to be advised.

4. Saturday, April 25: Luau at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is postponed until July. Exact date to be determined.

5. Sunday, April 26: Worship Service, will be done virtually, via ZOOM, Facebook Live. There will be no service in the Sanctuary.
    

• Hawaiian Mission Bicentennial programs scheduled for April 4 in Kailua-Kona, and May 2 – 3 in Waimea, Kauai, have been postponed.

• Moanalua Community Church UCC is canceling its 14th Annual Spring Celebration that was scheduled for Sunday, April 12.

• The Woman's Board of Missions 149th Annual Meeting and Fellowship, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, has been canceled. Read a letter from Executive Director Clara Priester HERE.

• Hawai'i PAAM has announced that the 2020 PAAM Convocation scheduled for June 25 - 28, 2020, in Northern California has been canceled. The Hawai'i PAAM music arts tour delegation will instead focus on a virtual concert of our island churches in August. More information to come. Contact Rennie Mau at kahumau@gmail.com for more information.

• Christian Endeavor Hawai'i has announced that the 2020 Pacific Region Christian Endeavor Youth Conference to be held at Kawaiaha'o Church in July has been canceled. Contact Mike Warren at kahumikewarren@gmail.com for more information.

March 11, 2020

Patricia Dutcher-Walls helped participants gain a new understanding and appreciation for ancient biblical poetry in her two-day workshop, Listening with New Ears to the Old Testament, held March 6 – 7 at Wailuku Union Church on Maui. This workshop was part of the Equipping Tomorrow's Church Leaders program.

March 11, 2020

On February 29 Waiola Church honored Mō'īwahine Keōpūolani, who brought the first missionaries to Maui in 1823 and founded Lahaina's oldest Church.

The celebration featured informative presentations by Dr. Ron Willliams, on Keōpūolani and Christian Hawaiian royalists, and by Tanya Lee-Greig, who mapped the church's historic graveyard. Children from Pūnana Leo O Lahaina, the Hawaiian emersion preschool located on church grounds, participated. The evening featured a Tahitian feast to honor Tau'a, the Queen's Christian instructor, in recognition of her Tahitian ties. Two hundred guests were served with food and entertainment, and more attended during the day. This commemoration was made possible through a Maui County OED Grant. View new photos. 

March 11, 2020

Know any young adults (ages 19 and up) interested in serving as an intern on a farm on O'ahu's North Shore? Interns will grow in caring for the earth while fostering healthy local communities through sustainable agriculture. Mohala Farms and Church of the Crossroads will host interns for ten weeks as part of the UCC's Summer Communities of Service program. Click HERE for more info. Share this with a young adult you know!
 

March 11, 2020

Ke Ola, Hawai'i Island's Community Magazine, has a nice feature article on Hokuloa United Church of Christ in the March-April edition. Written by Ma'ata Tukuafu, the article recounts Hokuloa's rich history dating back to the arrival of the first missionaries in 1832 up to present day, with Joe Medlin serving as the current pastor. Read the article on pages 53 – 57 of the magazine HERE.